Her Texas Mail-Order Husband Bargain

Prologue

“Anna?”

Anna barely heard her name being called. She stood staring at the cross with her father’s name scrawled on it. The flowers laid over the freshly filled-in grave were full of life and color, which felt ironic given Edgar Montgomery’s current state.

She wanted him back. Pa had been so strong and healthy, so he should’ve lasted longer, maybe even still be alive when she was starting to go gray. But he had suddenly taken ill, and he just wouldn’t get better.

Now he was gone. And Anna felt like she was alone for the first time.

She stared at his name carved into the cross and the dates. And then she glanced over at the grave beside it, this one much older with grass covering where the body had been laid to rest. She read the name inscribed and felt her chest tighten.

Mary Montgomery. Her mother.

Anna could still remember when she died.

She’d been only six years old, confused as to why her mother was so sick, and they couldn’t play together.

The pain of losing her had been strong seventeen years ago, and it felt even more acute now, especially with her father lying in the freshest grave beside her.

“Anna.”

Someone touched her arm, and Anna jumped, her heart feeling like it was about to burst out of her chest. She spun around and saw Connor Laurie standing beside her. She pressed a hand to her chest, her heart racing.

“Connor! Don’t scare me like that!”

“Sorry. I called your name five times.” Connor glanced at Pa’s grave. “I still can’t believe he’s gone. It doesn’t seem real.”

Anna didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to go into it right now, otherwise she would end up bursting into tears again. Swallowing, she squared her shoulders and straightened up.

“What is it you wanted? I thought you were going back to the ranch.”

“I did, but Mr. Neelley is there. He wanted to speak with you.”

Anna frowned. Why did her father’s lawyer want to speak with her right now? Surely, there were formalities that could wait until the next day when she visited his offices?

“Why?”

“He didn’t say other than it pertained to the ranch, and you needed to hear it.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better, Connor.” Anna smoothed her hands down her skirt. “All right, I’m coming. Where’s Edwin?”

“I think he’s in the saloon. I heard him laughing in there when I went past.” Connor scowled. “He seems to be celebrating rather than mourning. It’s disgusting.”

Anna couldn’t agree more. She knew Edwin and Pa had been at odds in recent months, but to be so callous as to celebrate someone’s death… that made her feel sick. How were they related?

At least she could speak to Mr. Neelley on her own. Edwin was more focused on how much money he was getting. Anna didn’t want to know about the money beyond knowing if there were any debts to pay off.

She would rather have her father back than his money.

“He’s going to inherit the ranch, isn’t he?” Connor asked as they walked toward the church gate.

“What makes you think that?”

“Because he’s the next male heir.” Connor shifted his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

Anna scowled. “Edwin might think he’s going to get it, but not if I have anything to do with it. I won’t let him have my home.”

“Do you think that he won’t be able to run the ranch properly?”

“Do you? You two don’t get on, so what do you think?”

Connor snorted. “I wouldn’t trust him to look after shutting the front door properly.”

“It’s that bad?”

“Just because he’s entitled doesn’t mean he gets to behave as if he’s going to have everyone do his bidding simply because he said so. I’m certainly not going to do it.”

Anna wasn’t surprised by that. Connor and Edwin did not get along.

Connor had been hired by Pa five years earlier, and he’d proven himself to be a good worker.

Anna saw him as an older brother she never had.

It was nice to have someone to lean on when she needed it.

She’d hoped, years ago, that it would be Edwin, but her older cousin really didn’t care about her.

All he was focused on was getting what he felt he deserved.

Anna didn’t understand how someone could be that greedy. She certainly couldn’t do it.

It didn’t take long to walk back to the ranch, which was on the outskirts of town.

It was strange to have a ranch this close to a town, but it worked for Pa.

According to him, her grandfather had built the ranch first, and Vernon was built around him.

Anna wasn’t sure how much of that was true, or if her grandfather was just too lazy to go too far away, but she didn’t question it.

It made it easier to head into town to get supplies.

However, it was bad because Edwin drank every night, and sometimes during the day at the saloon. It was all he cared about. Even with the funeral, he’d barely hung around to see his uncle get lowered into the ground before leaving. Anna couldn’t believe the disrespect.

Mr. Neelley was sitting in a wicker chair on the porch when they arrived. The lawyer was flipping through papers on his lap, his legs crossed. He looked very comfortable. He jumped to his feet and cleared his throat when he saw Anna and Connor approaching.

“Miss Montgomery,” he said with a cough. “Forgive me, but I didn’t think this could wait until tomorrow.”

“It’s fine, Mr. Neelley.” Anna beckoned him to follow her. “How about we take this inside?”

“I’ll just go and get the horses brushed down,” Connor said, squeezing her arm. “You need me, you just give me a shout.”

“Thank you, Connor.”

As Connor walked away, she and Mr. Neelley went into the house.

As Anna removed her coat, she caught sight of herself in the mirror.

Her dark hair, even when braided, fell to her waist, tendrils escaping from the braid.

Her face was pale, making her dark eyes stand out even more.

She looked thinner than she remembered, with dark circles under her eyes that made them look hollowed out.

It was a miracle she was still upright. Anna took one look at herself, and thought she looked unwell.

“Anna?” The portly lawyer was standing in the doorway to the sitting room, giving her an odd look. “Are you all right?”

“I…I’m fine.” Anna dusted herself down and joined him, sitting in her favorite chair by the window. “Well, as fine as I can be in the situation here. I just…it feels so strange. I can’t believe he’s gone.”

Mr. Neelley gave her a sympathetic smile.

“Your father talked about you often. He loved you dearly, and he was very proud of what you’d become. I know he worried about you should anything happen to him.”

“Is that why you’re here?”

“In a manner of speaking.” Mr. Neelley sighed as he reached into the file on his lap. “He came to see me shortly before he had taken ill. He wanted to make sure his will was up to date and… make sure that you had what you deserved.”

Anna didn’t like the sound of that. It could mean anything, and she didn’t want to get her hopes up.

Part of her was still expecting Pa to walk into the room and ask what they were up to and why he hadn’t been invited to join them.

She imagined him giving her a warm smile and a kiss on her cheek before joining them and talking to Mr. Neelley about the cattle and their recent antics.

But that didn’t happen, and Anna could feel a heavy weight pressing down on her shoulders.

“What does that mean?”

Mr. Neelley gave her a nervous smile before handing her the will to look at.

“As you can see, the ranch is to be passed on to Edwin, your cousin. As the next male relative, it’s to be expected…”

“I’m aware of that,” Anna said tightly, trying not to tighten her fists as she looked at the offending words. “I was hoping that it would be different. That Pa wouldn’t…”

“He really wanted to leave you the ranch, but the law dictates…”

Anna held up a hand to stop him.

“I wish you would stop saying that, Mr. Neelley. I know daughters aren’t supposed to inherit property.

But I would’ve thought that he would provide for me, at the very least. Make sure that I didn’t lose everything.

” She gestured at their surroundings. “This is my home. I was born here. This is the place that holds the few memories I have of Ma. If I have to leave, they’ll all be gone. ”

“Wouldn’t Edwin let you live here?”

Anna scoffed.

“He doesn’t want me around at all. He’s made that very clear. He’s been dropping hints that I should move to that lodge on the other side of the ranch. Out of sight where I belong, he said.”

Remembering that conversation the day before the funeral, made Anna’s stomach turn. She couldn’t believe that someone could be so callous.

Pa would’ve been furious if he knew his daughter was being mistreated.

“Well, that’s why your father wanted to update the will,” Mr. Neelley said, taking the will back to inspect it himself. “He wanted to put in a stipulation. One that would benefit you.”

“Benefit me?” Anna blinked. “How is that possible?”

“He told me, and we put it in writing, that he knew Edwin wouldn’t be able to handle the ranch properly, that it would go to rack and ruin. In his own words, ‘my nephew will make my family ranch bankrupt within six months’.”

“I won’t argue with him on that one,” Anna mused. “But why not just ignore what Society dictates and let me inherit?”

“He suspected that Edwin would put up a fight and make sure something happened for him to get it, I’m sure. Everyone knows how much your cousin wants to own this place.”

“It’s all over Vernon about how he wants to make it his own,” Anna snorted. “Pa could’ve just disinherited him.”

“He did something else.” Mr. Neelley hesitated. “I’m not sure if you’re going to like it, though.”

That didn’t make Anna feel any better. She gripped the arms of her chair, resisting the urge to squirm.

She hated it when someone spoke in this manner.

Pa often did it, and it always came with bad news, or something he knew she wasn’t going to be happy with.

Why did the lawyer use the same language?

“What is it?” she whispered.

“There’s a chance for you to inherit the ranch in your own right.”

That made her sit up.

“What? Really?”

“Yes. But you would have to marry.”

Anna thought she’d misheard him. She stared at him, but Mr. Neelley’s expression didn’t change.

“What… but… I have to marry?”

“If you have a husband, then you’ll be able to get the ranch instead.” The lawyer backtracked a little. “Well, your husband inherits, but it will mean it becomes yours. Edwin wouldn’t be able to do anything about it if you got married.”

“But…”

Anna’s mind was spinning. Had her father wanted her to marry so she could inherit the ranch herself? How could he do that to her? It didn’t make any sense. Why couldn’t he just let her have it without all the issues? It would be frowned upon, but it would be a lot easier.

“And if I don’t marry?” she croaked.

Mr. Neelley looked pained.

“Then, I’m afraid, you won’t be able to get your home back.”

“So, I have to find a husband in order to hold onto what is actually mine?” Anna felt the shock being replaced by fury. “I can’t believe he would do that to me.”

The lawyer didn’t say anything, and Anna did her best to rein in her anger. She didn’t want to get married, and certainly not in such a calculating way. It felt like her choices had been taken out of her hands, and she hated it.

“He’s given you a timeline as well,” Mr. Neelley said quietly. “You’ve got until the end of next month to get married.”

“But that’s only six weeks away!”

“And if you succeed, then you get the ranch. Then even your cousin can’t argue with that.” He paused. “I’m sorry, Anna, but that’s what your father put in his will. There’s no other way around it.”

Anna knew that much. She was being given no choice, simply to get what was rightfully hers. Pa had known that, and he’d done things his own way.

It didn’t make her any happier, though.